Two teams operating in the bottom half of the Scottish Premiership table will come together on Saturday afternoon as Ross County host Kilmarnock at the Global Energy Stadium.
The hosts are ninth in the standings with 32 points from 28 games played, while the visitors are 10th in the table with 31 points from their 28 fixtures.
Match preview
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Since securing an encouraging sixth-placed finish in 2021-22, Ross County have been involved in the battle against relegation from the Scottish Premiership in the following two seasons.
Ross County placed 11th in 2022-23, beating Partick Thistle on penalties in the relegation playoff final, and 11th again in 2023-24, defeating Raith Rovers 6-1 on aggregate in the playoff final.
Don Cowie, in charge since February 2024, would have had ambitions of avoiding the battle for survival entirely this season, and the Staggies are having a fair campaign as they pursue that objective.
Ross County are currently placed ninth in the table with 32 points after 28 matches, from eight wins, eight draws and 12 losses, leaving them five points above 11th-placed Dundee in the relegation playoff place.
Aiming to further extend their lead on the bottom two, while also looking to close the current four point gap on sixth-placed Hearts, Ross County will be eager to secure all three points on Saturday.
The hosts will be matched up with a Kilmarnock side in a very similar position, as Killie currently place 10th in the Scottish Premiership table with 31 points from their 28 games, after eight wins, seven draws and 13 defeats.
Derek McInnes, who has been at the helm since January 2022, will be particularly disappointed with how their season has played out thus far, falling from a superb fourth-placed finish last year to fighting against the drop this term.
Killie have been especially underwhelming on their travels, having the worst away record in the Scottish Premiership with just nine points from 14 outings, after two wins, three draws and nine defeats.
They have also struggled against the Staggies in recent meetings, already losing to Ross County both home and away this season, while they have failed to win at the Global Energy Stadium since March 2017.
Team News
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The hosts will be without the services of Alex Samuel (thigh), Michee Efete (Achilles tendon), Ryan Leak (Achilles tendon) and Will Nightingale (unspecified) due to injury issues.
Despite losing 1-0 to St Johnstone in their most recent match, Cowie could keep faith in the same team that secured brilliant back-to-back wins against Motherwell and Dundee in the two prior games.
As for Kilmarnock, Kyle Vassell (shin) and Stuart Findlay (ankle) will both be missing due to ongoing injury problems, but the remainder of the squad is expected to be available.
While Killie eventually lost 4-2 to Rangers last time out, having initially taken a 2-0 lead, McInnes could decide to name a largely unchanged starting team here.
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Amissah; Tomkinson, Lopata, Campbell; Wright, Kenneh, Randall, Chilvers, Harmon; Phillips, Hale
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
O'Hara; Wright, Mayo, Deas, Ndaba; Armstrong, Lyons, Magennis, Murray; Watkins, Wales
We say: Ross County 2-1 Kilmarnock
Ross County have been utterly dominant against Kilmarnock, particularly at their home ground, and with Killie's dismal away record this term, we expect a victory for the hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
